Harold Sprent Nicholas
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Early life

Harold Sprent Nicholas (1877–1953) was an Australian judge, journalist and politician. He was born in Hobart,
Tasmania ) , nickname = , image_map = Tasmania in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Tasmania in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdi ...
in 1877 to William and Alice (née Sprent) Nicholas, daughter of James Sprent. Harold spent his childhood in Bothwell at the family property ''Nant'', and was educated at
The Hutchins School , motto_translation = Character lives after death , city = Hobart , state = Tasmania , country = Australia , coordinates = , type = Independent, day & boarding , de ...
, before earning his degree at
Corpus Christi College, Oxford Corpus Christi College (formally, Corpus Christi College in the University of Oxford; informally abbreviated as Corpus or CCC) is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. Founded in 1517, it is the 12t ...
.


Legal career

Nicholas was admitted to the bar of the
Inner Temple The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, commonly known as the Inner Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court and is a professional associations for barristers and judges. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and ...
in 1901 and returned to Australia in the same year, where he became a successful journalist writing for the Sydney Morning Herald and Daily Telegraph. From 1929-34 he was founding editor of the Australian Quarterly. He was counsel advising the Royal Commission on the Constitution (1927–1929) and in December 1932 became a member of the Legislative Council of New South Wales as a member of the
United Australia Party The United Australia Party (UAP) was an Australian political party that was founded in 1931 and dissolved in 1945. The party won four federal elections in that time, usually governing in coalition with the Country Party. It provided two prim ...
, remaining a member until 1934. In 1933-1935 he was the commissioner in a New South Wales Royal Commission into the creation of new states, of which no results came. He was appointed to the Supreme Court of New South Wales in 1935, and become Chief Judge in Equity in 1939, remaining so until 1948.


Later life

Nicholas was Australian representative to the fourth meeting of
UNESCO The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) aimed at promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences and culture. It ...
in 1949. He died of coronary vascular disease on 11 June 1953. His ashes are interred in Bothwell with his parents and first wife. The altar at St Michael and All Angels Church in Bothwell commemorates him.


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nicholas, Harold Sprent 1877 births 1953 deaths United Australia Party members of the Parliament of New South Wales Members of the New South Wales Legislative Council Alumni of Corpus Christi College, Oxford Members of the Inner Temple Australian barristers Australian journalists Judges of the Supreme Court of New South Wales People educated at The Hutchins School